The brand new 2025-26 Championship campaign is in full swing, and fans are beginning to wonder how things might shape up at the top end of the table. Easybet users will know that the bookies are already making their predictions, with some really good value picks available at this early stage of the campaign.
The English second tier is one of the world's most popular when it comes to online sports betting because it is so exciting, vibrant and full of potential for those who can find it.
The first few games of the season have shown that this is going to be an extremely tight title race and a very competitive season across the board. The Championship is known as the league where anybody can beat anybody, and the first four fixtures have lived up to that moniker.
With this season's champions extremely hard to predict, let's see who the bookies are going with.
Ipswich Town (9/2 favourites)
None of the four teams on this list of the most-backed by the bookies are currently in the top 4 of the table. That speaks volumes about how competitive the early stages of the season have been.
Despite enduring a difficult start, drawing three and losing one of their four games, and languishing just above the relegation zone, Kieran McKenna's side are favourites with the bookies to win the title.
As one of three recently relegated sides from the Premier League, they are considered one of the best squads in the division, gifted with one of the best managers. It's been a rocky start but they should turn the corner soon and at 9/2, they represent brilliant value as an outright pick to win the league, as do all the teams on this list, demonstrating how close this race looks to be.
Coventry City (6/1)
Unlike Ipswich, Coventry City have started very well. Frank Lampard has guided them to two wins and two draws, including a 7-1 mauling of QPR, as they sit fifth in the table. Despite not being blessed with the Premier League parachute payments of Ipswich, Southampton or Leicester, Coventry are backed by many to have an outstanding season.
Many are confident that The Sky Blues will achieve promotion, and the bookies are even tipping them to win the title, with only Ipswich being favoured more than them.
After a tough start to the 2024-25 campaign, Lampard arrived and totally revitalised the team, leading them to the playoffs, where they unfortunately lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Sunderland. The bookies fancy them to bypass the playoff lottery altogether this season and achieve automatic promotion, perhaps by winning the title.
Southampton (13/2)
Despite having one of the worst Premier League seasons in history last season, the bookies are giving Southampton a good chance of bouncing straight back up to the top flight. There is pretty much one reason for this, and that is their new manager, Will Still.
Many clubs, after performing so badly, would expect to show those scars in the Championship and have a torrid next season, but confidence is already being restored in the Saints thanks to the coup of appointing Reims and Lens manager Still in the summer.
Often given the moniker The 'Football Manager' Manager, due to his confessed love of the video game series, the 32-year-old is one of the most highly sought-after young managers in the game today, and Southampton luring him to the EFL might have been the masterstroke which could see them make an immediate return to the Premier League.
Birmingham City (15/2)
The third team in this list, which didn't feature in last season's Championship table is Birmingham City, but not for the same reason as Ipswich and Southampton.
Birmingham City achieved promotion from League One last term by running away with the third-tier title under manager Chris Davies. Thanks to the investment of their moneyed owners and the profile-boosting appearances of NFL legend Tom Brady, The Blues have enjoyed a quick turnaround from the misery of relegation to now looking at a possible double-promotion.
The money has afforded them the ability to sign players like Jay Stansfield, Kyogo and others. Davies has built a very capable squad, and after being at their lowest point in decades just over a year ago, things are certainly looking up at St. Andrews
